Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.

Reason Is Unable To Grasp The Higher Realities

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - Internet Church Of Christ - LoveAllPeople.org

Human reason is unable to grasp the higher realities, because reason is grounded in our very limited sensory experience. The origin of the universe, the purpose of life, the nature of God, the nature of good and evil are impossible for reason to comprehend.

Reason is very capable of grasping simple conceptual relationships, such as "if X, then Y." Reason's crowning achievement, which is Science, is capable of manipulating these simple conceptual relationships to yield stunning progress in our understanding and control of our material world. Through Science, we can fly in the air and beam pictures around the world instantly. We can do many things that earlier people could not do, all because of Science.

However, reason is incapable of grasping the higher realities, just as your dog is unable to grasp Accounting. The higher realities are beyond its capabilities. For a thorough, systematic discussion of the limitations of reason, please refer to the classic philosophical work, "The Critique Of Pure Reason," by Immanuel Kant. A copy is available at http://www.loveallpeople.org/critiqueofpurereason.txt

The first paragraph presents the conclusion of the entire work. Here it is . . . 

  "Human reason, in one sphere of its cognition, is called upon to
consider questions, which it cannot decline, as they are presented
by its own nature, but which it cannot answer, as they transcend every
faculty of the mind."
  Source: "Critique Of Pure Reason," first paragraph, Meiklejohn
           translation, 1781.
In other words, the human mind feels compelled to try to answer certain questions which are totally beyond its ability to answer. Thus reason alone is unable to provide many of the answers we are seeking. The problem is not that we are reasoning incorrectly, but that reason simply cannot comprehend certain things, just as your dog cannot comprehend accounting. He may be a wonderful dog, but he will never be able to prepare your income tax return.

Therefore, if you try to understand the higher realities based on reason, you are like the blind man who follows another man just as blind. As Jesus explained . . . 

         _____________________________________________________________
       
      "And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind?
       shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Luke 6:39 KJV)
         _____________________________________________________________

The higher realities are revealed by God directly to man, in the form of divine revelation. We cannot get them by means of our own understanding. 

              "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
               thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,
               and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
Discernment of the higher realities comes only by the Spirit of God. 
              1 CORINTHIANS 2:11-14 (KJV)
                                       
                        Discernment By The Spirit Of God
                                          
             11
                    For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the
                    spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of
                    God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
             12
                    Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
                    but the spirit which is of God; that we might know
                    the things that are freely given to us of God.
             13
                    Which things also we speak, not in the words which
                    man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
                    teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
             14
                    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
                    Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
                    neither can he know them, because they are
                    spiritually discerned.
Therefore, don't waste your time trying to figure out the "Big Questions" of life using reason. You cannot do it. Better intellects than yours or mine have tried and failed. Why? Because it cannot be done: reason is incapable of doing it. You might as well try to teach Accounting to your dog.

# # #

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May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word. 

     Rev. Bill McGinnis  <><
     billmcginnis@loveallpeople.org

See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical truths.

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word. 


     Rev. Bill McGinnis  <><
     billmcginnis@loveallpeople.org

See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of Biblical truths.

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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Blessings to you. May God help us all. 

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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